About the WWC Check

What is a WWC Check?

The WWC Check is a compulsory screening strategy in Western Australia and the Christmas and Cocos (Keeling) Islands for people who engage in certain paid or unpaid work with children, described as “child-related work” under the Working with Children (Criminal Record Checking) Act 2004.

The WWC Check includes a National Police History Check, but is different from a National Police Certificate because it involves the ongoing collection and assessment of information that is relevant to whether a child may be exposed to a risk of harm should a person engage in child-related work.

What are the aims of the WWC Check?

The WWC Check aims to protect children in Western Australia and the Christmas and Cocos (Keeling) Islands by:

deterring people from applying to work with children where they have a relevant charge or conviction on their criminal record that indicates they may harm a child;

detecting new charges and convictions of those people who hold a current WWC Card and preventing them from continuing to engage in child-related work where their criminal record and behaviour indicates they may harm a child;

protecting children by creating awareness that safeguarding children is a whole of community responsibility.

Once a person holds a WWC Card their eligibility to continue to hold it may be re-assessed if they have a new relevant charge or conviction which indicates they may harm a child while engaging in child-related work.

Who conducts the WWC Check?

The WWC Screening Unit is responsible for administering the WWC Check in Western Australia and the Christmas and Cocos (Keeling) Islands. The WWC Screening Unit is part of the Department of Communities.